I’ve been researching more about the raw vegan diet and it’s a major goal of mine to eventually become a raw vegan; not just for a quick cleanse/diet but to embrace a complete lifestyle change. One thing that stands out the most to me is the social stigma attached to raw veganism. It’s often considered an “extreme diet” but why?
As humans, we are the only species on the planet that cooks food. And the earliest humans on Earth were vegan. Studies show meat only came into the human diet once they discovered fire. And even then, they would only eat meat out of the need to stay alive during times when certain plants were scarce. They wouldn’t eat it frequently, and definitely not daily. Yet eating meat is so normalized in the U.S. that it’s common for people to eat meat for all three of their daily meals. Some bacon and eggs for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch, and a steak for dinner.
Being raw is the most natural eating method out there when comparing us to animals. Even carnivores eat their meat raw, and if we did that, we’d die from all of the harmful bacteria from the raw meat. Further proving that humans are not genuinely supposed to eat meat. We should only consume foods that we could eat raw. It’s real food, after all.
Is It Really Extreme?
What I find extreme is eating processed foods and chemicals. Every time someone eats a burger, they’re playing Russian Roulette with their organs. That’s the true extreme diet. Every time animal products are consumed, it’s a game of “Will I get a heart attack? Will I feel extremely sluggish for the next couple of hours? Will I feel depressed and unmotivated? Will I get cancer? Will I get blood clots?” The questions never end. Living life on the edge with an extreme diet is to eat fake and heavily processed foods.
I bring this up because we need to really start questioning whatever is considered “normal” in our society, because time and time again, we are seeing that “normal” is quite abnormal. Why is eating a cheap burger, some heavily salted french fries, and drinking a large cup of carbonated sugar considered normal? And on every children’s show the kids are screaming, “ewwwwww, brussel sprouts!” (brainwash us young!) We are taught early on to eat for our taste-buds and not for our organs.
What is a Raw Vegan Diet and Why is it Healthy?
Raw veganism consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and legumes, and nothing is cooked above 180 degrees. Because the foods are so nutrient-rich, eating a raw vegan diet comes with many health benefits, such as:
- Improved heart health
- Lowered risk of diabetes
- Aids in weight loss
- Improved digestion
- Improved sleep
- Mind clarity
- Increased energy
- Increased alkaline
- Clear skin
- Improves mental, emotional, and spiritual health
- Bonus: looking young, healthy, and fabulous
There are some cons to the raw vegan diet if you aren’t eating properly. You could be eating raw but if it’s not the proper amount of proteins or other necessary nutrients and vitamins, you could face these risks:
- Become nutritionally unbalanced
- Weakened muscles and bones
- Tooth decay
- Reduced fertility
These cons can be avoided as long as you’re taking in the right foods in the right amounts. Being a non-raw vegan can still be bad for you if you’re eating nothing but french fries. You may be saving animals, but what about saving yourself? After all, we are animals too. Just be disciplined and you’ll get all the nutrients you need. And remember, self-discipline is self-love!
Have an Open Mind
It’s important to question everything, regardless of the topic of discussion. It’s foolish for anyone to believe everything they’re told. Instead of insulting vegans because that’s the “cool thing to do”, ask questions and hear people out. Having an open mind just may open your mind to the constant programming being instilled in us. 👁
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